BTN.com staff, March 14, 2013

Devyn Marble scored 19 points to help Iowa hold on for an important 73-59 victory over Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten tournament on Thursday night. Mike Gesell added 11 points, including a clinching three-point play with 1:41 left as the Hawkeyes (21-11) continued their late-season push for a spot in the NCAA tournament with their eighth victory in 10 games.

Catch up on all the action on our Big Ten scoreboard and get video, stats and recaps in this post.

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FINAL:  Northwestern (13-19) fell 73-59 to Iowa (21-11) on Thursday at United Center in Chicago in the Big Ten Tourney. Iowa started the game out strong with a 15-2 run, which allowed it to take a 13-point lead in the first. Roy Devyn Marble finished off the run with a field goal and propelled the Hawkeyes to a 36-22 lead at intermission.

Marble sparked the Hawkeyes, as he had 19 points and pulled down six rebounds in the victory. Iowa shot just 37 percent from the field (23-of-62). The Hawkeyes shot 21-of-32 from the free throw line. Iowa was tough on the offensive boards, grabbing 23. Melsahn Basabe stuffed the statsheet for the Hawkeyes with a double-double. He scored 10 points and corralled 12 rebounds. Iowa also got a solid contribution from Mike Gesell (13 points).

Alex Olah shot 3-of-5 from the field and scored 12 points for the Wildcats. Northwestern struggled from the floor, shooting 37 percent (18-of-49). The Wildcats also got a double-digit effort from Tre Demps (11 points). Reggie Hearn had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

The Hawkeyes won the battle on the boards as well as the game, as they outrebounded Northwestern 52-34. Iowa never trailed in the game. The Hawkeyes' largest lead was 18, which came with 5:09 to go in the first half. The Wildcats have now lost their last nine games.

HALFTIME: Iowa has the lead at the break, 36-22, as well as the rebounding edge, which the Hawkeyes dominated by a 22-15 margin. Iowa led from the start and led by as many as 18 points.

The game was tied before Northwestern went into a funk, going the next 6:25 without scoring, and allowing the Hawkeyes to take a 11-0 lead in the first.

After already giving up seven offensive rebounds to Iowa, the Wildcats will have to keep the Hawkeyes off the boards in the second half. Eight Iowa players have scored.

Adam Woodbury led Iowa in the first half, with five points and three rebounds. Alex Olah helped Northwestern with six points and four rebounds.


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Aaron White's high-flying dunk.

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Eric May throws down a one-handed slammer.

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Alex Olah's slam dunk for the Wildcats.

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